Starting Now: Friday, August 24, 2012

Friday, August 24, 2012

Today, I am filled with gratitude for:

A day of peace and quiet at work.
Discovering a new (to me) blog that really caught my fancy: www.npr.org/thesalt
Listening to new music at work on NPR, making the day a little more exciting and fresh.
Email exchanges from my dad filled with the promise of surprise.
Catching myself daydreaming about our night before and getting butterflies. I love that this still happens after 10 years of marriage.
Hearing my sister-in-law so excited about getting two new puppies, brother and sister, after school today for their daughter/our niece.
Catching up with Phil. Completely astonished that I've talked with both brothers in the same week. I feel more connected to them both this week than I have felt in years.
Our own family after-school adventure for our first twilight tour at the Deer Valley Rock Art Center. What a gem of a place and we can't wait to go back. It was a very interactive tour, and visiting this hidden spot smack in the middle of sunset and moonlight was special. I think we will try November for their Native American festival and another in March where we will get to try roasted agave!
Lily thanking us on the way home for taking us to do things like that and for being the best parents ever. Score!
Hearing Lily excitedly share her story of how she did Reiki for all her friends at school today who got hurt and how they all felt better after. "But mom, I do mine a little different than you do," she said as she demonstrated with her hands and arms from the backseat. "And Harlee said, 'The Kuntz's have magic in their fingers!' " So touching! No pun intended, but pretty appropriate.
Meeting the two new puppies, Toby & Roxy. Welcome to the family! We are so excited to get to know you better and for Molly to have some new friends!
Putting Emmy down for sleep and having a few minutes to break into my new Yoga Journal issue. Found another 21-day challenge, new music, delicious smoothie recipes and more. I love these bite-size challenges that give a great introduction to things new, fun and healthy - gearing up for September 9th Fitness Challenge!

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Welcome to Starting Now

Starting Now, I am starting to finish. Always prolific in my starts, I give birth to many ideas that flutter like a baby bird leaving the nest for the first time. In what feels to be the thick of my life (see "About Me"), there is no better time than now to take flight, to make my finishes as abundant as my starts. I no longer have limitless time or desire to clean up the mental and physical chaos created by starting many things and not fnishing one.

It is my hope that in starting now (for there is only now) and starting here on the page, that I will reach through the initial excitement of a thought, a project, a relationship just beginning, etc.... I will abandon my fear of yet another fallen start, sorrow heavy on my mind and in my heart to instead, give strong wings to my start, life to my lungs, and clarity to my psyche as I soar from one project to the next.

A bit lofty, I realize, but in starting this blog, I am creating accountabilty for myself to show up at the page every day. To show up is to write every day. Create. Improve every day. Learn. Hone the idea, thought, project, progress every day. Grow. And perhaps, learn from others who care to share their ideas on starts and finishes, as together, we spur a community of finishers able to relish in the life and gift - to ourselves and those we share our lives and gifts with - of what we finished, and what we start anew, again, now.

The idea is that as I embark on a start, I will track it here to its finish. Add thoughts if you like, or share your own starts, what you learn along the way, ideas for improvement and efficiency, how you enjoy the journey. For I realize that life is not simply about finishing, but the journey along the way. Yet, I am learning that to finish (something, anything, if even just for today it is folding the laundy and putting it away), boosts my confidence and becomes the catalyst for the birth and life of another start. Another contribution to our beautiful world.

My Life

Mother to Lily and Emmy, two young girls alike only in their adoring, interesting, active, sensitive, loving, creative ways; wife to Andy who has an uncanny resemblance of characteristics to the ways of our girls and who is a recovering (at least that is my wish!) non-finisher like me; caretaker of our human-like Irish red and white setter named Molly, and;

Breathe, ahhhh

Active participant in our lives filled with work, school, deadlines I struggle to meet, homework, cooking, appointments, relationships, laughter, sometimes screaming (we’re all working on that), play, bills, travel, gymnastics, walks with the dog, reading, managing technology and schedules, exercising our independence and learning to work together (and the balance of the two), trying to make healthy choices, and, did I forget anything?

Yes! In honor of my first start, breathing fully (I often forget to do this) and practicing gratitude. Thank you breath, for you give me life!